SEPMA International USA, the renowned cultural platform initiated by CEO and founder Zille Huma and dedicated to promoting music and recognizing talented artistes the world over, held the grandest and most anticipated event of the year – Jashn-e-Sepma — the first Pakistani festival to be held in Hampstead Town, New York. A delegation of 27 Pakistani stars which included a bevy of pop, rock and sufi singers including Komal Rizvi, Raga Boyz and Ayesha Omar, and celebrity hosts Alyy Khan and Cybil Chaudhry, led by spokesperson SEPMA, Shanaz Ramzi, represented Pakistan on the grand occasion. Celebrating Pakistan Day as well as the 7th anniversary of Shaan-e-Pakistan, this extraordinary festival was a captivating fusion of art, music, and culture, all under one roof.
As Zille Huma opened Jashne Sepma Music Awards happening for the first time in the USA she introduced not only the diverse music talent of Pakistan to the US but also laid the groundwork for business opportunities and Business Awards adding it to the chart of upcoming JASHNE SEPMA. The objective of holding the awards and the festival in New York, the most happening state of the US was to promote cross-border collaboration through music, fashion and art depicting our part of the world — especially the neighboring countries of Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh – and opening doors for business and opportunities to them.
Beginning with stalls selling various local products to entice visitors – of which the one that drew the maximum footfall and sales was by Ayesha Omar selling her beauty and skin care range – followed by riveting performance by Raga Boyz, speeches by representatives of Hampstead Town and Zille Huma’s partners in SEPMA Foundation USA, Shanaz Ramzi and Zille Huma, the first segment of the event, hosted by Alyy Khan and Cybil Chaudhry ended with citations being presented by the town to Alyy Khan, Komal Rizvi, Ayesha Omar and Shanaz Ramzi.
The second segment of the highly entertaining programme comprised fashion presentations, performances and awards. With the House of Braahti by Zille Huma showcasing its Mumtaz collection dedicated to the royal Mughal era, presented in a unique theatrical style, complete with singing, dancing and violin-playing, the show had enthralling performances by Komal Rizvi who also sang unplugged, Ayesha Omar and Raga Boyz, and a dance performance by Saima Azhar. Among those to don the exquisite collection were Cybil Chaudhry, Saima Azhar, Ayesha Omar (show stopper) and Uroosa.
